Friday, March 6th, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Levien Gym (3,400) -- Manhattan, New York. Television: None. Home Record: Princeton 8-6, Columbia 7-5. Away Record: Princeton 4-6, Columbia 3-9. Neutral Record: Princeton 0-0, Columbia 1-1. Conference Record: Princeton 7-4, Columbia 6-6. Series Record: Princeton leads, 137-83.

GAME NOTES: The Princeton Tigers enter Manhattan for a must-win game against the Columbia Lions in Ivy League action. Princeton is still alive in the race for the Ivy title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, although the team's chances aren't good. The Tigers have to root against Cornell, which currently tops the league at 9-3. Princeton is 7-4 in Ivy action, and it will face Cornell tomorrow. The Tigers have won their last two outings to move to 12-12 overall, and the most recent triumph came over Yale on Saturday by a 62-54 final. As for Columbia, it has lost its last three outings to fall to 11-15 overall and 6-6 in league action. The Lions, who have played themselves out of contention for league title, fell to Dartmouth on Saturday by a 67-53 final. They are, however, 7-5 at home, much better than a 3-9 mark in true road games. Princeton owns a 137-83 series lead over Columbia, including a 63-35 victory over the Lions in the first meeting this season.

Princeton is scoring 58.6 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 57.1 ppg on 39.4 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers are paced by Douglas Davis, who is netting 12.4 ppg. The only other double-digit scorer on the roster is Dan Mavraides with his 10.5 ppg. Princeton connected on 53.5 percent of its field goal attempts in the victory over Yale on Saturday. The Tigers hit all nine of their free throws and buried seven three-pointers in the contest. Mavraides posted 16 points and six rebounds to lead his team, while Davis contributed 12 points off the bench.

Columbia, like Princeton, is far from explosive at the offensive end of the court, as the Lions are only generating 60.8 ppg on 40.5 percent shooting from the floor. Fortunately, they have been able to hold opponents to 63.3 ppg on 40.9 percent field goal efficiency. Patrick Foley leads Columbia with a modest average of 10.9 ppg. The only other double-digit scorer on the roster is Jason Miller with his 10.0 ppg. Miller and K.J. Matsui both scored 19 points for the Lions on Saturday, but Foley was held scoreless in the loss to Dartmouth. Columbia connected on only 39.1 percent of its field goal attempts and suffered a 36-27 rebounding disadvantage. A 25-11 deficit in points from the foul line also hurt the cause.

The Lions will play hard at home tonight, but give a narrow edge to Princeton, which hopes to keep its title hopes alive.

Predicted Outcome

Princeton 60, Columbia 58